January 2014 – Page 21 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Changes coming to ACT and Other School Testing

Posted on January 26, 2014January 25, 2014

(AP) – Missouri is going to begin picking up the tab for students to take the ACT college entrance exam and dramatically reduce the amount of time some elementary and middle school students spend taking state assessments.

When the changes take effect next school year, Missouri will join more than a dozen states that already offer the ACT test to all their students. Missouri plans to offer the test once, free of charge to high school juniors.

Elementary and middle school students also will see changes as the state switches to new assessments tied to the Common Core standards for math and reading. Students in third, fourth, sixth and seventh grades will take a one-hour version of the test. Only fifth- and eighth-graders will take a longer seven-hour version.

NWS: Wind Advisory

Posted on January 26, 2014January 26, 2014

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
321 AM CST SUN JAN 26 2014

...AN ARCTIC FRONT WILL BRING STRONG WINDS THIS EVENING...

.A POWERFUL COLD FRONT WILL BRING VERY STRONG WINDS TO THE REGION
LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SUSTAINED WINDS
BETWEEN 25 AND 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED AND GUSTS MAY APPROACH 45 TO 50
MPH. WINDS WILL GRADUALLY BEGIN TO WEAKEN EARLY MONDAY MORNING.

ATCHISON KS-MIAMI-LINN KS-DONIPHAN-LEAVENWORTH-WYANDOTTE-
JOHNSON KS-GENTRY-HARRISON-MERCER-PUTNAM-SCHUYLER-ANDREW-DE KALB-
DAVIESS-GRUNDY-SULLIVAN-ADAIR-BUCHANAN-CLINTON-CALDWELL-
LIVINGSTON-LINN MO-MACON-PLATTE-CLAY-RAY-CARROLL-CHARITON-
RANDOLPH-JACKSON-LAFAYETTE-SALINE-HOWARD-CASS-JOHNSON MO-PETTIS-
COOPER-BATES-HENRY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ATCHISON...PAOLA...MOUND CITY...TROY...
LEAVENWORTH...OVERLAND PARK...OLATHE...ALBANY...STANBERRY...
BETHANY...PRINCETON...UNIONVILLE...LANCASTER...DOWNING...
SAVANNAH...CAMERON...GALLATIN...JAMESPORT...TRENTON...MILAN...
GREEN CITY...KIRKSVILLE...ST. JOSEPH...PLATTSBURG...HAMILTON...
POLO...CHILLICOTHE...BROOKFIELD...MACON...LA PLATA...PARKVILLE...
PLATTE CITY...WESTON...LIBERTY...EXCELSIOR SPRINGS...RICHMOND...
CARROLLTON...SALISBURY...KEYTESVILLE...MOBERLY...KANSAS CITY...
INDEPENDENCE...LEXINGTON...CONCORDIA...MARSHALL...FAYETTE...
NEW FRANKLIN...RAYMORE...HARRISONVILLE...PLEASANT HILL...
WARRENSBURG...SEDALIA...BOONVILLE...BUTLER...RICH HILL...CLINTON
321 AM CST SUN JAN 26 2014

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 AM CST
MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL HAS
ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS
EVENING TO 4 AM CST MONDAY.

* TIMING: A COLD FRONT WILL ENTER THE AREA EARLY SUNDAY EVENING...AND
  STRONG WINDS WILL QUICKLY DEVELOP ONCE THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH.
  WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO SLOWLY DIMINISH EARLY MONDAY MORNING.

* WINDS: SUSTAINED WINDS BETWEEN 25 AND 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH WIND
  GUSTS BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH POSSIBLE.

* IMPACTS: WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT...
  ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. BE ALERT FOR SUDDEN
  STRONG WIND GUSTS. THESE WINDS CAN ALSO LIFT TRASH CANS...LAWN
  FURNITURE...AND OTHER LOOSE OUTDOOR OBJECTS.

* ADDITIONAL IMPACTS: TEMPERATURES WILL QUICKLY PLUMMET OVERNIGHT.
  EXPECT OVERNIGHT LOWS TO REACH THE SINGLE DIGITS TO LOWER
  TEENS...WITH WIND CHILL VALUES BETWEEN -5 AND -15 DEGREES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WINDS OF AT LEAST 30 MPH ARE EXPECTED
WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING
DIFFICULT...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. ALSO...TAKE
ACTION TO SECURE TRASH CANS...LAWN FURNITURE...AND OTHER LOOSE
OUTDOOR OBJECTS.

Obituaries for January 26, 2014

Posted on January 26, 2014January 26, 2014

ST. JOSEPH – Thomas Bireline, 57, died Thursday, January 23, 2014 at Heartland Regional Medical Center.
He was born July 10, 1956 to Frank and Irene (Dimmick) Bireline in Lewis, Kan. He participated in Special Olympics and especially enjoyed swimming. He loved going on outings with his group home. He enjoyed music, especially Christmas carols as Christmas was his favorite holiday.
He was preceded in death by his parents; paternal grandparents, Frank L. Bireline (Eleanor); and maternal grandparents, Ira Dimmick (Eva).
Survivors: sister, Ruth Bireline, St. Joseph; aunt, Lovelle Wood, Snohomish, Wash.; and numerous cousins.
Services: 3 p.m. Monday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home and Crematory. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home and Crematory, where friends may call after 5 p.m. Sunday. Flowers are appreciated and for those wishing to make a contribution, the family requests they be made to the Special Olympics. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

STILLWELL, Kan. – Warren C. Tiley, 59, died Thursday, January 23, 2014 at Truman Medical Center.
He was born October 20, 1954 to John and Agnes (Kennedy) Tiley in Chambersburg, Penn. He was preceded in death by his father.
Survivors: mother, Agnes Tiley, St. Joseph; and sister, Sharon Tiley, Overland Park, Kan.
Services: 1 p.m. Monday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home and Crematory. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial dontations to be made to American Heart Association. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

ST. JOSEPH – Theodore Joseph “Ted” Yackie, III, went to his heavenly home with the Angels on January 21, 2014.
He was born on February 17, 1968 in St. Joseph. He was the son of Theodore J. Jr, and Sharon (Pohl) Yackie of St. Joseph. He lived the first ten years of his life on north 3rd St., then moved to Amazonia, Mo., where he attended school, then graduated from Savannah High School.
He was a semi-truck driver for K.A.R.S. Trucking and also a former driver for Midwest Scrap Trucking of St. Joseph.
Theodore was a member of the Savannah Avenue Baptist Church in St. Joseph, Missouri. He was also a member of the St. Joseph C B Club. His handle was Teddy Bear.
He was preceded in death by his father; and grandparents, Charley and Gladys Pohl of Amazonia.
Survivors: mother; two daughters, Heather Yackie and Melanie Yackie of the home; sister, Theresa Hunt, St. Joseph; two nieces, Ashley Yackie and Caitlyn Hunt, St. Joseph; nephew, Brandon Wilson, St. Joseph; one great-nephew, Ayden Colley; two great-nieces, Kloe Yackie and Brittany Wilson; step-niece, Jennie Hunt; girlfriend of 17 years, Deanna Bittick; step-daughter, Shannon Bittick-Belk; two grandchildren, K’jwan Belk and Azzayan Belk; and many close friends and relatives.
Care provided by Meierhoffer Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home and Crematory. Inurnment St. John’s Cemetery, Amazonia. Flowers are appreciated and for those wishing to make a contribution, the family requests they be made to the family to help defray funeral expenses. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com

HOPKINS, Mo. – Roger Neal Langley, 53, died Wednesday, January 22, 2014, at his home in Hopkins.
Roger was born April 7, 1960, in Maryville, Mo., to Ivan and Kerlin Yvonne (Dougan) Langley.
A 1978 graduate of Maryville High School, he attended Vatterrott College and was a production lineman at Energizer Battery Corporation.
Preceding Roger in death were his father, Ivan Langley and brother, Michael Langley.
Survivors include his two sons, Colten Langley, Canal Winchester, Ohio and Colby Pankau; grandson, Jaxson Pankau; mother, Kerlin Davis; step-father, Gene Davis; brother, Alan Langley; and sister, Donna (Lonnie)Tompkins, all of
Maryville; nephew, Josh Gilbert, Springfield Mo.; special friend, Lacy Miller, Hopkins; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, January 28, 2014, Price Funeral Home, Maryville. Memorial Services: 7 p.m., Tuesday, January 28, 2014, Price Funeral Home. Inurnment will take place at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the Roger Langley Memorial, c/o Price Funeral Home, 120 East First Street, Maryville, MO 64468.

AMAZONIA, Mo. – Mary Irene Wright, 62, passed away Friday January 24, 2014 at her home after a second courageous battle with cancer. She was born November 20, 1951 in Palo Alto, Calif., and the daughter of Margaret and George Herring.
She married Mike Wright on December 18, 1969, in Savannah, Mo., and they shared 45 years together. She attended Lafayette High School, and worked as a care giver and nurse aide at the Missouri Methodist Hospital and LaVerna Village, where she retired in 1998. She was a proud 15 year survivor of breast cancer before succumbing a second time. Mary was a devoted mother and grandmother to her sons and her cherished grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by husband, Mike Andrew Wright of the home; two sons, George M. (Penny) Wright, and Eric S. (Betsy) Wright both of St. Joseph; grandson, Hayden Wright; granddaughter, Paige Wright; two sisters, Connie (Danny) Johnson of St. Joseph; and Judy Edwards of Albany, Mo.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday evening to celebrate Mary’s Life. She has been cremated under the care of Rupp Funeral Home. Memorials are requested to the Mary Wright memorial fund in care of the Rupp Funeral Home. Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com

Griffons lose by 34 to No. 22 Missouri Southern

Posted on January 25, 2014

The Missouri Western men suffered their worst loss of the season falling 105-69 against the #22 Missouri Southern Lions. The Lions scored over 50 points in both halves as the Griffons fall to 8-10 overall and 3-7 in MIAA play.

The only lead for the Griffons in the opening half came at 3-0 after a Hans Thun three pointer opening the scoring. The Lions then went on a 14-2 run claiming a 9 point lead after a dunkn by Jordan Talbert. The Lions extended its lead to 10 before the Griffons used a 12-5 run cutting the Missouri Southern lead to 29-26 after a Wes Mitter layup with 7:48 to play.

The Griffon offense struggled the rest of the half scoring just four points to the Lions 25. The Lions used a 19-0 run claiming a 48-26 lead with 2:31 to play after a three point play from Cameron Cornelius.

The Griffons had seven players score in the half as Dzenan Mrkaljevic led the charge with eight points off the bench. He also had five rebounds. The Griffons made just 31.6-percent (12-38) from the field and 4-of-12 from long range. The Griffons were outrebounded 25-16 by the Lions but did have 10 offensive rebounds to MSSU’s eight.

The Lions shot the lights out in the half making 59.3-percent (16-27) from the field and 85.7-percent (6-7) from long range. The also made 16-of-23 free throws. Greg Renfroe led the charge with 13 points while Jordan Talbert had seven rebounds.

The second half did not get any better for the Griffons as they got outscored 51-38. The Lions improve to 14-3 on the season and 8-2 in MIAA play.

Four Griffons scored in double figures with Ryan Devers leading the charge with 14 points. Mrkaljevic and Kalvin Balque finished with 12 while Charlie Marquardt pitched in 11. The Griffons shot 39.7-percent (25-63) from the field and just 57.1-percent (16-28) from the free throw line. The Griffons got out boarded 42-23 but did have 12 offensive rebounds to the Lions 11.

The Lions shot outstanding in the game making 68-percent (34-50) from the field and 72.7-percent (8-11) from long range. The also made 29-of-40 free throw attempts. Five Lions scored in double figures with Renfroe scoring 28 points on 10-of-12 shooting and making 8-of-9 free throws. Talbert led the charge on the boards with eight rebounds. He also had six assists and five blocked shots.

The Griffons return to action on Wednesday, January 29 when they take on the Lincoln Blue Tigers at 7:30 pm in the MWSU Fieldhouse.

— MWSU Sports Information —

15th-ranked Ravens pull off upset at No. 5 Evangel, 85-82

Posted on January 25, 2014January 25, 2014

For the sixth time this season, the No. 15-ranked Benedictine (Kan.) College men’s basketball team stepped on the floor against a member of the NAIA Div. I Top 25 as they took on No. 5 Evangel (Mo.) University in the NAIA DIv. Men’s Basketball Game of the Week.

Benedictine (15-4, 8-1 HAAC), who was playing against their second NAIA Div. I Top 15 program in the past three days, went 6 for 6 from the free throw line over the final 30 seconds on Saturday to hold off a late run by No. 5 Evangel (16-4, 7-1 HAAC) 85-82 and move to 6-0 against NAIA Div. I ranked opponents this season.

The Ravens took on two ranked opponents during November, going 2-0 against then-ranked No. 21 Park University and also knocking off then-ranked No. 2 Oklahoma Baptist. They also ended 2013 with a home win over No. 1 Columbia (Mo.) College.

This past week, Benedictine earned a win over No. 11 Culver-Stockton 79-72 at home on Thursday before traveling to Springfield to earn the three-point win over the Crusaders.

Saturday, Benedictine led for much of the game against Evangel.

After leading by as much as 12 points in the first half and 10 points in the second half, Benedictine found themselves in a battle over the final five minutes of the game.

Evangel’s top scorer, Zack Kleine knocked in a 3-pointer with 5:04 left in the game to pull the game into its second tie at 68 points.

Kleine single-handedly pushed the Crusaders back into the lead for just the second time since their opening basket of the game but the lead was short lived.

Benedictine’s Jonathan Anaekwe and John Harris Jr. hit three straight free throws 90 seconds after Evangel took the lead to pull the game into its third tie at 70 points.

Evangel answered Harris Jr.’s second free throw to pull back in front with a field goal at the 3:20 mark only to have Harris Jr. answer on the other end for Benedictine to push the Ravens ahead 73-72 with 3:09 remaining.

Benedictine never gave back the lead as baskets from Charlie Wallrapp and Harris Jr. kept the Ravens up by three points setting up the final 30 seconds where the Ravens capitalized at the charity stripe.

The Ravens hit 17 of 21 free throws in the second half, finishing the game at 78.1 percent.

Benedictine held Evangel to just 26.1 percent from beyond the 3-point arc but the Crusaders were able to overcome their 3-point shooting effort from the charity stripe. Evangel went 20 of 25 at the line in the first half and 10 of 11 in the second half to finish at 83.3 percent.

Benedictine finished the game hitting 51.9 percent from the floor against the Crusader’s No. 12-ranked field goal percent defense.

Wallrapp scored 24 points to lead four Ravens in double figures while Kleine finished with a game-high 27 points for the Crusaders.

Harris Jr. added 17 points for Benedictine while Anaekwe added 14. Shawn Fleming Jr. scored 11 points off the Benedictine bench, which held a 21-9 advantage over Evangel’s.

The win in Springfield gives Benedictine their first win over Evangel on the road since Dec. 2, 2006 when they beat the Crusaders 76-67. It also gives the Ravens sole possession of first place in the HAAC by a half game over Evangel as the second half of conference plays begins this next week.

— BC Sports Information —

Brown, Clarkson lead Missouri past South Carolina

Posted on January 25, 2014January 25, 2014

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Jabari Brown had 24 points with a career-best six assists and Jordan Clarkson added 22 points, helping Missouri handle South Carolina 82-74 on Saturday.

Earnest Ross added 14 points for the Tigers (15-4, 3-3 SEC), who led by double digits most of the way and kept the Gamecocks (7-12, 0-6) winless in conference play. The winners shot 54 percent and combined for a season-best 18 assists.

Brenton Williams had a career-best seven 3-pointers and a season-best 32 points for South Carolina, which has dropped the first six conference games for the first time since a 0-6 start in 1998-99, and is 0-7 on the road. Sindarius Thornwell fouled out late and had 14 points after totaling 50 points the previous two games.

Brown leads the SEC in scoring with an average of about 20 points and was 4 for 6 from 3-point range. He’s 16 for 24 from long range the last four games.

Missouri is 43-2 at home in three seasons under coach Frank Haith. South Carolina coach Frank Martin picked up one of the wins in 2012 when he was at Kansas State but is 1-6 overall at Missouri.

Michael Carrera scored six of his 16 points in the final 1:46 for South Carolina, including two free throws that cut the deficit to six points with 1:18 to go. Ryan Rosburg was 0 for 4 at the line the final 1:29 for Missouri, but Carrera also missed a pair with just under a minute left.

Carrera added 11 rebounds for the losers.

Ross had 12 points and Missouri shot 50 percent in the first half, leading by as many as 20 points and taking a 38-22 cushion into the break. Wesley Clark had a 3-pointer and Ross converted a three-point play to cap a 16-0 run that put Missouri up 38-18 with 1:48 to go.

South Carolina cut the gap to 11 points early in the second half before Missouri answered with eight straight points, including 3-pointers by Clarkson and Brown in a 53-second span.

The Gamecocks waited more than 6 minutes for its first basket while falling behind 11-0, and shot 25.9 percent in the first half.

Thornwell, who totaled 50 points the previous two games, was held to six points in 12 minutes while saddled with two fouls.

The attendance of 12,033 was the largest of the season at Mizzou Arena, which holds just over 15,000.

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western women struggle offensively in 65-50 loss at Southern

Posted on January 25, 2014January 25, 2014

The Missouri Western women shot just 26.3-percent (15-57) from the field in a 65-50 loss on the road against Missouri Southern. The Griffons also struggled from the free throw line making just 59.3-percent (16-27) of their attempts. The Griffons fall to 7-10 overall and 2-8 in MIAA play.

The Griffons led just once at 5-4 in the first half against Missouri Southern. The most MWSU trailed by in the first half was eight at 27-19 with nine seconds to play in the half after a Shonte Clay layup. The Griffons were able to go into the half on a positive note as Stephanie Lichtenauer nailed a three pointer as time expired cutting the Lion lead to 27-22 at the half.

Despite playing without their two leading scorers in Sharniece Lewis and Quenisha Lockett the Griffons were able to hang in with the Lions. The Griffons dominated the boards outrebounding the Lions 20-13 with 10 coming on the offensive end of the floor. Seven Griffons scored in the half with Lichtenauer leading the way with five points on 2-of-2 shooting. Jallisa Lewis led the charge on the boards with six. The Griffons shot just 27.6-percent (8-29) from the field and 3-of-8 from long range.

The Lions were led by Clay with eight points on 3-of-4 shooting. Kristen Hanna and Dominique Mosley each had six points. The Lions made 10-of-20 field goals and 6-of-8 free throws.

The Griffons kept the game close for most of the second half but a late 11-0 run by the Lions put the finishing touches on the Griffons. Alexis Gray hit a layup with 11:30 to play cutting the Missouri Southern lead to 37-33 with 11:30 to play. The next three and a half minutes belonged to the Lions going on a 9-1 run opening up a 12 point lead after a Nicole Hartzog layup with 8:07 to play.

The Griffons kept playing hard, cutting the Lion lead to 47-42 after two Tiara Hall free throws with 5:56 to play. Unfortunately that would be the closest the Griffons would get as the Lions closed on a 18-8 run winning by 15. The Lions improve to 14-3 overall and 8-2 in the MIAA.

The Griffons had 10 players score in the game with Hall and J. Lewis leading the way with nine points. Lewis also had nine rebounds while Hall collected seven.

The Lions shot 61.8-percent (21-34) in the game and made 20-of-28 free throws. Clay finished the game with 10 points while Mosely pitched in 13 on 6-of-7 shooting.

The Griffons return to action on Wednesday, January 29 with an MIAA contest against the Lincoln Blue Tigers. Game time is set for 5:30 pm in the MWSU Fieldhouse.

— MWSU Sports Information —

No. 8 Kansas stays unbeaten in Big 12 with blow out win at TCU

Posted on January 25, 2014January 25, 2014

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Andrew Wiggins scored 19 of his career-high 27 points in the first half and No. 8 Kansas never gave TCU a shot at a repeat of last year’s huge upset, beating the Horned Frogs 91-69 Saturday night.

The Jayhawks (15-4, 6-0 Big 12) won their sixth straight game and remained the only Big 12 team without a league loss. Kansas didn’t get to extend its run of wins in four straight games against ranked opponents, the first team to do that since North Carolina in 1996-97.

In their visit to Fort Worth last year, the Jayhawks became the first top-five team to lose to the Horned Frogs in a 62-55 defeat. This time, Kansas had 53 points at halftime and led by as many as 24 in the first half.

Brandon Parrish scored 15 points to lead TCU (9-10, 0-7). The Horned Frogs are the only conference team without a league win and are 2-23 in their two Big 12 seasons.

Joel Embiid had 14 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots for Kansas before fouling out for the fourth time this season. Wayne Selden Jr. scored 12, and Perry Ellis had eight points and 14 rebounds.

TCU’s student section flashed last year’s score in huge block numbers before the opening tip in case the Jayhawks had forgotten, but Wiggins wasn’t around back then.

The top-scoring freshman in the Big 12 made his first three shots and had a pair of 3-pointers and an alley-oop dunk from Selden in the first half. Wiggins topped his previous career best of 25 points against Florida on Dec. 10 and led Kansas with five assists.

Wiggins also made it easier for the Jayhawks to exploit their size advantage inside. Jamari Traylor and Embiid had back-to-back dunks to put the Jayhawks up 14-6, surpassing their halftime total of 13 points from last year just 4 1/2 minutes into the game.

Kansas, which shot a season-low 30 percent in last year’s loss, was at 62 percent in the first half, which ended with the Jayhawks in front by 21. The Jayhawks shot 57 percent for the game.

Conner Frankamp and Wiggins hit consecutive 3-pointers to finish a 13-2 run that put Kansas up 43-22.

Embiid, a 7-footer from Cameroon, showed some versatility, beating Amric Fields with a strong spin move for a layup shortly before getting a steal, dribbling the length of the floor and getting fouled driving for a layup. He made both free throws for Kansas’ biggest first-half lead at 51-27.

Fields had 13 points and seven rebounds for the Horned Frogs. Kyan Anderson added 12 points and eight assists.

— Associated Press —

No. 22 K-State comes up short at No. 16 Iowa State

Posted on January 25, 2014January 25, 2014

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Three straight losses and the distraction caused by the ongoing Bubu Palo saga left No. 16 Iowa State in desperate need of some good news.

A close win over a ranked opponent was a good place for the Cyclones to start.

Melvin Ejim scored 20 points and Iowa State beat No. 22 Kansas State 81-75 on Saturday to snap a three-game losing streak and get back to .500 in the Big 12.

”I wanted to see how our guys responded, and we had as good a week of practice as we’ve had all year,” Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg said. ”Guys put those losses behind us. They wanted to come out and win in the worst way.”

Georges Niang had 18 points and freshman Matt Thomas matched a career high with 14 for the Cyclones (15-3, 3-3 Big 12), who blew a 12-point halftime lead before putting the game away late in the second half.

Ejim blocked a potential game-tying 3 from Shane Southwell and hit two free throws to put the Cyclones ahead 79-73 with 23 seconds left.

Freshman Marcus Foster scored 20 points for Kansas State (14-6, 4-3), which lost consecutive games for the first time since November.

Thomas Gipson had just four points for the Wildcats.

”We had our opportunities. Again, we battled. They’re a good team. We knew it would be tough to win here after they had lost three in a row,” Kansas State coach Bruce Weber said.

Kansas State spent much of the afternoon allowing Iowa State to make a run and then matching it.

In the end, the Wildcats were just a couple of plays short.

Kansas State needed less than 7 minutes to erase a 46-34 first-half deficit, but Iowa State’s inconsistent defense let it down. The Cyclones allowed nine points in 2 minutes, and Will Spradling’s 3 tied it at 66-all with 5 minutes left.

Niang answered with a crucial 3, and Cyclones star DeAndre Kane shook off a sluggish game with a three-point play to put Iowa State ahead 72-66.

Kane finished with 10 points – his lowest total since mid-December – after shooting 3 of 12 for the second straight game.

”I think he’s rushing it a little bit,” Hoiberg said of Kane. ”He’s a great finisher and he’s been showing that all year. But he’s struggling with that a little bit right now.”

This was the first time in the 216 meetings between Iowa State and Kansas State that both were ranked in the AP Top 25.

But the Cyclones and Wildcats entered play looking to regain some lost momentum.

Iowa State had opened the season at 14-0, the best start in school history. But losses to Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas had considerably cooled the program’s national buzz and sent it tumbling eight spots in this week’s poll.

Then last week, a district court judge ruled that Palo, a reserve guard who averaged 2.8 points a game last season, be reinstated in a move that angered the administration and dominated local headlines.

Palo had been kicked off the team in August in connection with sexual assault charges that were eventually dropped. The Iowa Supreme Court on Friday denied a request by the Iowa Board of Regents for an immediate stay of that ruling.

Palo spent the game on the bench and in uniform, but Hoiberg refused to comment on Palo after the game.

Kansas State was coming off a buzzer-beating loss at Texas, as Jonathan Holmes hit a 3 as time expired for a 67-64 Longhorns’ win on Tuesday.

The Wildcats started out hot from the perimeter, hitting four of their first five 3-point attempts. Iowa State was even better, as the once-struggling Thomas connected on his first four 3s to help give Iowa State its 12-point halftime edge.

”We were getting loose balls. We were getting after them on the defensive end and playing with energy. I think when we do that we’re a tough team to beat,” Niang said.

Southwell had 14 points and Spradling added 12 for Kansas State, which hosts Texas Tech and travels to West Virginia next week.

”It’s a gut check week for our guys coming up,” Weber said. ”I told them before the game. ‘We’re a good team. Do you want to be a really good team? That’s the question.”’

— Associated Press —

Farming ballot measure campaign a hot topic

Posted on January 25, 2014January 25, 2014

(AP) – Opposition is starting to form around a ballot measure that would enshrine a “right to farm” in Missouri’s Constitution.

A former Democratic state senator has started a political action committee to fight the ballot measure. Wes Shoemyer says the amendment would take away the people’s ability to use the initiative petition process to regulate agriculture.

A coalition of farming and livestock associations, known as Missouri Farmers Care, argues the amendment is necessary to protect farmers from groups that use the ballot box to restrict farming and ranching.

Missouri lawmakers referred the measure to the ballot last year. It will appear on the November ballot unless Gov. Jay Nixon moves up the date. North Dakota voters approved similar constitutional protection in 2012.